You have two choices in pursuing your bachelor's degree. A Bachelor of Arts in health sciences will give you a greater background in liberal arts and allows you to take elective business administration courses. A Bachelor of Science in health sciences will provide a more in depth education in sciences, including biology. If you want to pursue a more clinical career, the Bachelor of Science is the better choice. If administration and management is in your future, go for the Bachelor of Arts. You will need a high school diploma or GED to begin working on your degree. Most institutions also require good SAT scores, a written essay and sometimes an in-person interview. This field of study is well-suited for distance learning and many top schools offer these degrees as fully online programs.

You may wish to make the extra effort to find a program certified by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA). While not the same as accreditation, the certification gives you a level of confidence you are in a quality program.

Accredited online bachelor degree programs in health administration that are certified by AUPHA make the most of technology and multimedia to make courses interactive. Online chat, discussion boards, email list serves, streaming video and re-playable podcasts are commonly used. Some schools dispense with expensive printed books and deliver materials as downloads or on CD-ROMs. You can usually access lectures at times convenient to you via mp4 downloads or hosted via on demand video. Many online students report they have a greater rapport with faculty in the online world because professors are more available by email, phone, text and instant message. The online degree option gives you access to top schools and leading faculty without you having to leave your home. You also have the option of keeping your job as you pursue your degree. You don't have to drop everything and run to campus.

In either case, your first two years will be filled with foundation courses and your third and fourth years will focus on degree-specific courses. On the management side, you will learn how to manage a medical department or office. Record keeping, accounting, handling insurance issues, and transcribing are part of most programs. You'll also take classes in patient relations. Other classes included medical law, policy trends and ethics. An internship working in a real-world, medical environment, such as a hospital, clinic or private practice is a common requirement.

Finding accreditation info for an online bachelor's in health administration

When choosing a college or university, be sure to check accreditations. There are many groups that accredit university programs, but the ones that matter most in this field are the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) and the Commission on Accreditation of Health Management Education (CAHME). Both of these organizations offer additional benefits, including information about the industry, information about specific schools, scholarships and internships, as well as continuing education and networking events. Other professional associations to look into include the National Healthcareer Association (http://www.nhanow.com).

The field of health administration is growing in more ways than one, and that not only means lots of jobs, but lots of types of jobs; many with high salaries and good benefits.

What makes the field so interesting is the sheer variety of work you can pursue. Sure, there are the expected jobs in hospitals, community clinics and doctors' offices. Your opportunities expand when you count in managed care and health insurance companies. There is almost no limit to where you can go when you consider health administration specializations in health marketing firms and marketing agencies and with law firms specializing in health care issues.

Benefits of an Online Bachelor's in Health Administration

To get on track for these jobs, you will need a college degree. The number of quality online degree options is growing, with top traditional universities now offering degrees online. You don't have to drop out of your daily life and move to a new city to get your degree from your institution of choice. The online option allows you to attend the program you want, and many allow a certain amount of flexibility in scheduling so you can continue to hold down your other obligations. With innovative technology such as discussion boards, online chat, electronic mailing lists, streaming lectures and downloadable podcasts, online programs are just as intensive and, in some cases, even more interactive than on-campus classes.

Considerations with Online Health Administration Programs

Flexible scheduling doesn't translate into an easy degree. Earning your bachelor's in health administration online will be a challenge. In many cases, the online programs are taught by the same professors and follow the same curricula as on-campus courses. Expect the first two years to focus on the basic liberal arts classes common to most bachelor's degrees. You will start with classes in English and writing, and sciences such as biology, chemistry or anatomy; then you'll round out your program with mathematics and information technology. The next two years are spent on core courses that cover health informatics, healthcare ethics, law and policy, human resources management, administration and management, finance and economics, marketing, statistics, organizational behavior and issues specific to nonprofits.

One innovation to note is the growing number of degree completion programs like the one at Drexel University. If you have already attended college, but didn't complete your degree, or if you have earned transferrable credits on foundation courses at a community college, you can earn your bachelor's in half the time and at considerable savings.

Another trend is the growth of online fast-track programs that allow you to earn credits that count toward your master's degree as you pursue your bachelor's. Most programs allow you to substitute undergraduate courses with comparable graduate-level courses. That one class counts toward your bachelor's degree and the credits transfer toward your master's. These programs allow you to save time and money in pursuit of a Master of Health Administration (MHA). You will have to earn both degrees from the same institution.

If you already know your specific career focus, many online degree programs allow you to add a specialization to your degree, such as pediatrics, long-term care, rehabilitation, and even law or marketing.

Are we missing any schools or programs? If so, please let us know! We appreciate your help in making this the best directory of Health Administration Degree Programs on the web. You can send us an email at schools@healthadministrationdegrees.com.